Whether its raw materials, machinery, research and development or the latest manufacturing trends, this tag provides up-to-the-minute insights into the upstream part of the tyre industry.
Following speculation, the mayor of Union City Terry L Hailey has confirmed Titan Internationsl's purchase of the former Goodyear plant in Union City, Tennessee in a Facebook status update. Hailey's Facebook message reads: "Good News! Titan Tire has bought the Goodyear facility in Union City. We look forward to a lasting relationship with Titan. It is official."
In recent years agricultural implement manufacturers have developed a range of modern implements and tractors that often demand wheels and tyres specifically designed and manufactured for the application. Starco recognised this trend some years ago and has focused on providing a comprehensive range of wheel and tyre solutions, including its own tyre brand. It has also strengthened its position within the sector through acquisitions of and strategic partnerships with specialist manufacturing companies.
Pirelli & C. SpA has reported that in the nine months ending 30 September 2011, the tyre manufacturing group saw "all economic indicators improved over the period," with revenues growing by 17.9 per cent to 4,265.8 million euros and profitability – understood as the ratio of the operating result to sales – by 10.6 per cent.
Following the announcement that Michelin is selling its 9.98 per cent share of Hankook, financial analysts have shared their view that the move amounts to “cashing in on a failed partnership.” Morgan Stanley's suggestion is that the Hankook shareholding ended up being a mere financial investment after attempts to cooperate more broadly “repeatedly failed.” Michelin built its stake in Hankook between 2003 and 2008 and reportedly tried to establish a partnership with Hankook to develop distribution, R&D and manufacturing together in Asia.
As of November 2011, former GKN Wheels Carpenedolo sales director Thomas Ruedl will take on the role of group sales director, OEM Key Accounts at Starco. In his new role, Ruedl will report to regional director Jef de Smedt and have overall responsibility for Starco’s existing and future OEM customers. First priority for Ruedl in his new position will be prioritising Starco’s agricultural, industrial and trailers/caravans markets; this will be followed by the horticultural and internal transport markets. The new OEM Key accounts group sales director will work in close liaison with local Starco sales entities, which will also continue their daily contact with global OEM customers as before.
Infrared temperature sensors from the Calex PyroCouple Series are being used by a major tyre manufacturer. The equipment is being used to detect the presence of hot rubber tyre material as it passes a point on a conveyor. The tyre material is transported in two thin bands on a cooled aluminium conveyor. The temperature of the tyre material is normally 75°C and the cooled conveyor surface temperature is typically 20°C.
Apollo Tyres Ltd chairman, Onkar S Kanwar, was inducted into the Tire Industry Association’s (TIA) Hall of Fame 2011 at a special ceremony held on 31 October in Las Vegas.
Every year the TIA honours the outstanding individuals who have created lasting value for the tyre, rubber and transportation industries. This year, along with Onkar Kanwar, three others have been honoured for their significant contribution to the American tyre industry. Kanwar, who is the only non-American to be inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame, unfortunately was not able to attend the ceremony in Las Vegas.
Maxxis has become the latest tyre manufacturer to join TyreSafe. As a full TyreSafe member, Maxxis will benefit from early participation and involvement in the group’s campaigns and activities. It will also have access to a wide range of TyreSafe publicity material, both printed and online.
Groundbreaking for Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations' new 1.5 million-square-foot (140,000 square metre) large and ultra-large radial manufacturing facility has taken place at the greenfield site the company selected in Aiken County, South Carolina. The tyre maker also announced further information regarding the start-up team that will take the helm in overseeing construction and hiring efforts. The core team is as follows:
The US Department of Commerce has announced that it has preliminarily decided to implement a range of anti-dumping (AD) measures against Chinese steel wheel producers/exporters ranging from 110.58 to 193.54 per cent ad valorem. According the department, for the purposes of AD investigations, dumping means “a foreign company sell[ing] a product in the United States at less than fair value.” Official reports show that the petitioners for this investigation were Accuride Corporation and Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. The final determination is scheduled to be made in March 2012. European authorities levelled a similar determination against Chinese alloy wheel makers in 2010.
Norbar Torque Tools has announced that Catherine Rohll has been appointed to the company’s board as commercial director, strengthening the family management team. She will hold the position jointly with her cousin Craig Brodey until he moves to Norbar’s Australian head office in Adelaide to work with the existing operation, supporting business growth for the company in the South East Asia region. He will take up his new appointment as commercial director for Australia in January 2012.
Although the United States tariff on imported Chinese consumer tyres is scheduled to end next year and import duties will thus drop from 29 to four per cent, Chinese manufactured tyres are not expected to regain the massive competitive advantage they once held over their US-made counterparts. During a quarter results conference call, Cooper Tire & Rubber chairman, chief executive officer and president Roy Armes commented that tyres produced in China held a 15 to 20 per cent cost advantage over locally produced tyres in the US market in early 2009. “Now it is in that 10 per cent to 15 per cent range,” he shared. Chief financial officer Brad Hughes added that the cost advantage for a landed tyre from China in the US was “moving towards” 10 per cent.
Westlake Tyres, which are manufacturer by ZC Rubber (China largest domestic producer and number 10 in the world), has confirmed that it will exhibit at next October’s Brityrex International exhibition in Manchester. The latest news is being interpreted as a real boost for the 2012 Brityrex exhibition as ZC Rubber is a fast-growing international player with annual sales in 2010 of more than US$ 3 billion.
Although Continental Tire the Americas only announced in May plans to expand its Mt. Vernon facility in the US state of Illinois, five and a half months later the first tyres from the project were produced, ahead of the anticipated start date. “I am very proud of our great team here in Mt. Vernon,” said vice president of manufacturing Benny Harmse. “Our team worked diligently to ensure the success of this expansion project and it was not only on time, but actually ahead of schedule. Their diligence resulted in the early production of the first tyres from this expansion. This is helping us with the important task of meeting our customers’ demands for Continental and General brand tyres.”
Michelin Tyre has announced the appointment of former Wedgwood and Austin Reed customer service specialist Mike Lawton as its new commercial director of agriculture, responsible for the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Lawton joined Michelin’s UK operation, based in Stoke-on-Trent’s Campbell Road, in 1999. He will replace Rob Beddis, who is retiring at the end of the month, after seven years in the role.
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